Spring-latch.



- JN0, 374,633. PATENTBD DEG. 24, 1907.

T. B. STEVENS.

SPRING LATCH. APPLIUATION FILED sPT.24,19o.

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' Toalll 'whom it may concern:

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE B. STEVENS, CLEVELAND., OHIO.

SPRING-LATCH.

Be itfknown that I," 'liiaonone B. STE

' VENS, a'citizen ol the United States, residing at Cleveland, in thecounty of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented a certain newanlf'useful `Improvement in S iring-Latehes,

IofV which the 'following is a full, clean. and

x 'exact description.

The drawing shows the invention iu the best form now known to ine. L

Among the 'desirable Characteristics of the lock shown, due to theinvention, are the following. Itis cheap in construction, and

very neat in a pearance; it is spring-actuated, 4and late esauton'iatically when the door lis'closedf but may be` subsequently`moved to draw the door niore closely against the door jamb it isreversible, that is to say lit may be assembled so as to be used eitherupon the right or left side oi the door; .It audits strike are soconstructed that they may be "secured to the door and door i'rninc ivrespecti'vely inthe precise relative position ingfthe position of saidparts also act to rcthe should occupy to properly engage with eac iother; and the'ineans for so determinallieve the hinges of the door fromstrain when 4tliel'atch isbeing operated to draw the door tightlyclosed.y Moreover, the latch is provided with a simple form ol" lockcontrivance l which serves the .double purpose oi' a lock, and of a boltfor holdingr the parts oi' the circular ,middlelatch in operativeposition." n

Iny thedrawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation oft-he latch and itsstrike applied to a door and door frame. Fig. 211s a front velo vationof the device when theI latch member `has ,been removed and a portion ofthe strike has been cut-away. Fig. I5 is a scctional view in the laneindicated byline 3-3` of Fie. 1 looking to ther/lett. Fig. 4- is: a4horizontal sectional view in the plane indicated byline 4 4 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a bottom view oi the latch member ofv the device. Fig. 6 is-avertical sectional section inthe plane indicated byline 6 6 of Fig. 2.Fig. 7 is an elevation -of' the key; and Fig. 8

Ais an elevation of the locking stud shutting the saine in a position atright angles to that in-w-hich it appears in iig. 4. y

Referring to the parts byA letters A represents the base of the latch.l't has a raised' art and an outwardly cxtended annular an e, adapted tolie a ainst the doork to'wliich t e base platern'ay e at- Specificationof Letters-Patent.

Application filed September 24, 1906. Serial No. 335,914.

Vframe by means of screws.

' o7, of suoli size that it' Patented Dec. 24, 19o?.

tached by means of screws J passing through the raised middle part. s

B represents the latch member which includes a rearwardly extended cylindrical flange the latch b and an operating handle b2. This. latchmember is provided with a rearwardly'extended cylindrical stud b4byrneans of which it is pivoted t'o the base plate A; and also with arearwardly extended o st b". It is necessary that all of the parts o thelatch. member mentioned shall be'rigidly connected, but it is notnecessary that they should all be made ot' one piece. In fact, in

' practice it is preferred that the flange b shall be part ol" a capmade of stamped metal; and that the rest olithis inernber shall bemalleable casting in the form of a bar b5, havin the clutch on o neond,the handle b2 on the other. The stud b* and a post b are formed on theunder side of said bar. Both project through holes in the top of thecap;and a part ol` this post b" just inside of tie cap is "veo upset againstsaid cap.y A finger [J7 on the rear side of the latch is bent into anotch in the loweredge of the ilange of the cap; and this, together withthcupsetting of the body the latch member. The stud l1" 4passes downthrough the centrally placed circular hole a3 in the base plato; whichhole has two radial l'irauches ai. l/Vhe'n the base plate is 'made ofstamped nieta-lr, those branches are 'formed by pressing the metalupward so as to additionally forni the posts e".

C rc Jrescnts a coiled spring having hooked` sliajiedoiids. (luv of''the lhooked shaped ends engages in a hole in the post (L9. .This

l. of post t, suitably connectsthe two parts of y post ispi'i-.fcr'al-)ly loruied by punching up a part ol' the base plate,thereby forming alsoa hole whose twoedges e2 (1,2 serve shoulders havinga function to belexplained presently. The coil of the spring surroundsthe stud b* and alsoeinbraces the posts o5 D represents the strike whichis ofthe usual form, and projects forward from a plate d which is to bcsecured 'to the door V On each side of this plate adjacent to the strikeare two recesses d di. @n the base plate A is a tongue tits loosely intoone of these recesscs.- f

inap lying the latch and strike to a door and its rame, the base' lateand-strike plate are respectively secure in place as shown in Flg. 2, atfwhich time, it will be seen, the

tongue c7 lies in one of the said recesses, as d. latch member is turnedupon the base late The s ring C is then put inthe position subto itsoperative position the bolt wil be stantially as shown in Fig. 2. Thelatch forced by itss ring down between the shoulmember is then attachedto the base plate by ders a2 c2. T 'erefore, all that one has to do irstpassingl the stub b4 and the radiating -in order to connect the parts inoperative po- 70 arms bs thereon through the hole c and its sition visto pass the stud b* through the hole branches c4. The latch member is ,ythen in the locking plate and Vthen turn said latch turned about onequarter of a revolution -member around to its operative osition.

' which carries the arms bs under the base The arms t8 prevent thelatch-mem er from' l0 plate and thereby prevents the removal ol. beingdrawn .out Vof engagement, with the 75 said latch member. When the partsare so base plate; and the engagement of the bolt E connected the HarigeD embraces the raised between the shoulders c2 prevents the latch part aof the base plate and engages with the member freni being turned back'out ofthe marginal ilange a. As the latch meinber'is operativeposition. 15 turned, the ost b w1ll come into engagc- The describedlatch is reversible. It is 50 ment with t ie hooked end of the spring C,therefore 'applicable to either the right or and will wind up thespring, which thereafter left side of the door. 1t is shown applied totends to 'turn said `latch member backward. the left side; but in orderto adapt it for ap-` It is now required that some means be proplicationto the right side all that is necesvided for holding the latch member inan op? sary to do isy to turn the spring;r C over so that 85 erativeposition. Any device which will per the hook on its free end faces inthe opposite mit the latch member to `turn a short disdirection to thatshown. When the latch tance onl will serve; that is to say enough memberis then applied to the base plate it is to propery engage and disengagethe strike; turned around to the operative position in a but thepreferred means consists of alocking direction contrary to that in whichit is 90 bolt E having a cylindrical body which .turned i'or assemblingthe device in thc manr,passes through and is rotatably mounted-in a nerlirst described. l,The saine postb" willA be circular hole in the topol| the latch member. brought into engagement with the hook on A springG is provided fordrawing thisbolt the free end oi'. the spring, andthereby the inward,.said spring being, in the formlshown, spring will bewound up; and the bolt E will 9s L a coiled spring thrusting.againstthe.v inner snap in between the two shoulders a and rcface ofthecap, and having its lower end protain the parts` in the operativeposition. jeoted into a hole in the bolt. On the lower When the spring C1s `turned over', its free y end of this bolt, and extendingdiametrically end will, obviously, lie directly upon thelbasc i acrossit is a narrow downwardly extended plate. It might, therefore, slipunder .the 100 rib c, Whichprojects into the space between post t, andthereby render the device inopv-y `the shoulders a on the plate A. Whenthis erative, unless the end of said post were very boltis in theposition shown in Fig. 4 the close to the base plate. Such action is notv v I latch is only permitted toliturn upon its axis liable to happen;but all chances for its so the short distance which said rib may movehappeningr argy practically eliminated with-"10,5 between saidshoulders, but this is suliieient out additiona expense by pressing anarc-1` to enable it to perform its functions. This sl'iaped groove ci inthe baseplate, and maley i locking bolt is provided with a head e havinging post t long enough to project into said on the under side thebeveled lugs c2.- These` groove below-the plane of the to ol said baseare adapted to enter grooves b in the top of plate. The recess' (Z2 onthe le t side of th `110 .the latching I nemberf-there being two ofstrike plate is for use in positioning the parts these grooves set atright angles to each oi' the latch when it is assembled on the rightother'. Oncol' them shows inllig. l and the side of the door.

other shows in Fig. 4. When itis desired `to The jlront surface oi thelatch is `beveled lock the latch, thislocking bolt is turned one :forengagcnwnt with the strike l shoulder; 115

qluarter of a rcvolu tion, whereby the ends ol whorcloro alter saidlatch has engaged with t vie rib e are 'brought into practical engagesaid shoulder one may, by applying sufficient:V

ment with the two shouldersil?, as shown by Vforce tothe handle oi' thelatch member, dotted lines in Fig. 2; and this prevents any l'orcc thisbeveled front surface down, with effective movement"of the bitchingmember v the 'result ol" drawing the door closed vc 1, 120r upon itsaxis. (Sec Fig. 2). Two holes e tightly. W hen the latch is somanipulatei may bcV inadein the top ol'v the locking bolt it is obviousthat anu ward strain is impose(4 `for the reception ol' two pronus lc onthe lower upon the door. All injurious e'i'l'ects ofthi end of a key K,by means el which the bolt upward strain are eliminated by thel engage fmay be turned. .i nient ol' thetongue a in one of the not hesl,125

When the latch member B is beingpasscd d clZ in the strike` plate. I I pv into the described e'ng'aefement` with the base While the drawingsshow what believ plate, the lowerend of bolt E will engage to be thebest embpdirnent of the inven with the top of the base plate, andwillthercand while said embodiment has been. e

by'` be pushed orwar'd'slightly. When the /scibed in detail, it-isobvious thatnianyr'lu 'minor changes in construction may be made,

'andit is not intended that thel claims shall be limited to thisspeciiic construction, except as such limitations clearly appear in theappended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In a latch, the combinationof a base plate and a latch member pivoted to said 'A base plate andcapable of being disconnected therefrom only when in certain positions,and a spring acting to turn said latch mem ber in the latchingdirection,said base plate and latchin member having,4 the one twoshoulders an the other a movable device capable of being movedbetween,said shoulders after the latching -member has been pivoted to the baseplate and has been turned into operative position, whereby the latchmember is iheld in operative position and prevented from being turnedrelative to the base plate to a position where it. can be' disconnectedtherefrom.

2. In a latch, the combination of a base plate and a latch memberpivoted to said base plate and. capableof being disconnected therefromonly when in certain" positions,

and a spring acting to turn said latch member in the latehingdirection,-said base ,plate and latchin .memben-having, Athe one twoshoulders an the other a movable de vice'capable of being moved betweensaid shoulders after the latching member has been movin scribe( positionbetween said shoulders.

pivoted tol the base plateand has been turned Ainto operativeposition,lwhereby the 'latch member is held in operative position and isprevented from being turned relative to the base plate to a positionwhere it can be .disconnected therefrom, and a spring for said movabledevice into the dev 3. In a latch, the combination of a base i plateprovided with two shoulders and a forwardly pro'ecting post c", a latchpivoted, to said base plate and having a rearwardly projecting postlb",a coil spring surrounding the axis of the latch and engaglng-a't itsends respectively with'the posts. b and @9,1 and a movable devicecarried. by the latch and adapted to be-moved 'between said shoulderswherebythrough the enga ement with said plate 'having two shoulders a, alatch member pivoted thereto, a' spring operated to turn it in thelatchin direction, a spring bolt which passes throug a hole in sail11atching member and is capable of being moved udwise and being turned inthe same, and having a narrow downwardly projecting rib on its underside which pro'ects between the said shouldersf-said latc member havingradiating grooves adjacent to said hole and said bolt having a beveledlug adapted to e11- ter either of' said grooves.-

6. In a latch, the combination oi a raised cylindricalA base platehaving a marginaliiange, and having a centrally placed circular holewith laterally extendedA branches, a`

latching member having a rearwardly pron jectmg cylindrical iiange and astud provided.

with a laterally extended arm, a coil spring withinsaid (lange tendingto turn said latching member relative to the base plate, said base plateand latching member being reF spectivcly provi-ded with two shouldersand with. a piece projecting between them and adapted to engage withthem'and thereby to limit the movement of the latching member upon itsaxis. l

'7 In a latch, the. combination of a raised cylindrical base platehaving a marginal flange. and centrally 'placed hole having laterallyextending branches and having an- `other hole near its edgeand having'also a forwardly extending post, a latch'meinber carrying a rearwardlyextended pivot stud provided with laterally extended arms and havingalso a rearwardly extended post t, a spring surrou'mling the pivotpostengaging with the two posts secured respectively to'. the basev plateand latch member, and a spring actuated locking bolt carriedby the latchmember and rejecting into the hole near the margin of t r1e base plate,

8. ln alatch, the combination ot' a raised circular base plate having amarginal flange,

said base platcbeing provided with cen trally.placedcircular hole andtwo shoulders, with a latch member having aA rearwardly extendedcylindrical `liange which -embraces the raised circular part ofthe baseplate and bears against said iiangepsa'id latch member has also arearwardl. extended cylinldrical4 stud which passes t rough the hole in.the base plate, means preventln the withdrawal ofsaid stud from saidhoe, a coiled spring surrounding said stud and enga ing at its endsrespectively with .p arts of the )ase plate and latch member, a springbolt carried by the latch member and adapted to engage between the twoshoulders on-the base plate. Y

In alatch, the combination of a raised circular base plate having anoutwardly eX tended marginal flange, said base plate being provided withtwo shoulders a2, and with a centrallyplaced'circular hole'havilaterally extended branches and with a orwardly, projecting post, with alatch member having Va rearwardly nextended cylindrical flange circularbase plate having an outwardly exba-se plate, and engages with` themarginal which embraces the-raised part of the base plete, and engageswith the marginal 'llange thereof, said latch member having also acentrally placed. and'rearwardly extended cylindrical stud provide-dwith laterally extended arms, and having also rearwardlyprojecting;pest,.a coiled spring surr'ml'nding the pivotr ing stud and having hoekshaped ends which engage with the two posts carried by the base plateand latch member .'respectiv'cly, and a spring belt carried by the latchmember and adepted te engage hete-'een said shoulders 10. [n e latch, 'the combinationel a raised tended marginal flange, said. bese plete beingprovided with twe shoulders.. a, and with l centrally placed circular'hele having laterally extended branches end with a for Wardlyprojecting' pest, with a. latch member having a rearwardly extendedcylindrical 'flange which embraces the raised part et the flangethereof, said latch member having also a centrally placed and rearwardlyextended cylindrical stud provided with laterally ere tended `arms, andhavingr also rearwardly projeetingpost, .a coiled spring surrounding'thepivoting stud and engaging at its end with the two posts carried hythe bese plate and latch member respectively, a spring belt carried bythe latch member, said belt haw ing a narrow dialmlftricelly disposed`rib upon its rear end which is adapted to lie between the two shouldersa, said bolt being adapted te be turned upon its axisse that said ribmaystand crosswise er lengthwise between said slionlde'ls, and therebyprt\.vent or per mit a limited mevement el the latch mem her. f

ll. ln e. latch, 'the emnbirmtien el' e. bese pl.atehavi-n;r :in arenaldepression in its smb lace and having a terwerdly i'ircjerting; pest, alatch member piveted 'te .seid bese plate i and having' a pestextemline"4 Limi-trein inle thesaid erct'izxl r'reeviyaceil sini nrrennding; the 'pivot of said latch meehei' and en gagging with said twopests, :and means limit.- idgr the movement el' the latch nlcml'aer unenits axis. v i l l2. ln 'alatch, a hitch niemlwr comprising 13. Inalatch,l the combination of e base plate having a tongue 57, a strikeplate having notches al (l2-either of Which1s adapted te receive saidtongue,-andhaving a strike which prejects torn-'ard from between saidnotches, with a hitch member pivoted to seid. hase plate and adapted toengage Withsai l strike.

lll. ln a hitch., the combination of a base plate having artengne hi, astrike platehaving; iictches d @ttf-either et which is adapted Y tereceive said tenggne,-en d having a strike, with a hitch inelnhernivoted. te said base plate and adapted to engage With said strike, thefront face of the latch member being beveled for engagement with theshoulder on the Strike.

15. In' a latch, the combination of a. bese plate havingr a tongue 57,'and a, strike plate having a recess d ande strike with a rcarwardlytacedshonlder, with a letch'lnernber pivoted tev said bese plate, aspring moving fit in the latching direction, means limiting the'movement of seid latch upon its 'ix-Xis, said latch having e bevelfrenti'ece .for en frzlgei'nent With the sheulder en the strike.

16: In a latch, the combination of a raised cylindrical base platehaving en outwarlly extended marginal iangje and an integral tonguelying substantiel inthe plane ol" seid llengawith a latein rearwardlyfprcjectilq fr a sind hy wl'iieh sai( the base plate, and l'inwerdljf"prelim-tine' one edge a shallow n seid 'tongue s ln testimonyinitalia-eil i hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwofyvitnesses. Y l 'lllhtlllllthl BrSTEVENS.

W itnesses :l l

11). llA Giten'ais'r, lil. li. 'lneesfs-m @ne plate havingl a eendhaving nem: .n adaptedto reeen' e member having a "h'ical' lll'ange andier is pivoted. to'

